Method and apparatus for shearing strip material



M. P. SIEGER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STR IP MATERIAL Api'il13, 1937.

Filed Nov. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTOR.

V A? 7M ATTORNEYS I April, 13,1937.

WIT/V5555:

Filed P. SIEGER 4 Sheet METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIP MATERIALNov. 10, 1936 V s-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April 13, 1937. M. P. SIEGER 2,076,969

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIP MATERIAL Filed NOV. 10, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 3 PEI -llllllliliL.

TL I

W/TNEJJEJ ATTORNEYS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING STRIP MATERIAL Filed Nov. 10, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 4 $5M M Y I 5 A QW J M A'ITORNEYJS.

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 'METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHEARING s'rmr MA'rEmALMaurice r. Sieger, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United Engineering &Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication November 10, 1936, Serial No. 110,057

21 Claims.

'operation have to be removed at some time or other before theprocessing of the ,strip is fin,-

-ished, and for many purposes it is desirable that they be removed anddisposed of as the strip issues fromthe last pass of the hot finishingmill.

If removed at such point not only is their subsequent useless processingand handling eliminated, but also any necessity of separating them fromthe usable strip at a further point in the finishing operation isavoided. In addition, and what is possibly most important, itfacilitates the entering of the strip in the subsequent processingapparatus which is often accompanied with difliculties because of their,deformities if the leading crop ends are not removed.

The removal and disposal of these crop portions at such point, however,presents a considerable problem because of the relatively high speed atwhich the strip is usually traveling at this point, and becauseapparatus can not be used for this purpose which may in any way soobstruct the delivery of the strip as to produce cobbles. This isespecially true of the removal and disposal of the front end crops asthey must be gotten out of the way in an exceedingly rapid and skillfulmanner in order to avoid interfering with the progress of the rest ofthe strip.

Heretofore, although other means have been attempted, the prevailingpractice has been to permit these cropped ends to be carried along thestrip-conveying table after they are cut ofi, and to station a number oftable men equipped with hand tools along the table to pull them out ofthe line of travel. Such practice is both undependable and dangerous aswell as relatively expensive as compared to the use of automatic meansfor accomplishing such end.

With the foregoing in mind it is an object of n interfering with thenormal travel of the strip. Another object is toprovide for doing thisautomatically and in such a way as to minimize the possibility ofcobbles being produced by the apparatus used.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for this purpose inwhich, with the exception of the cutting blades, it is unnecessary tomove any of its parts during the cutting and separat ing operation.

These and various other objects, as well as the various other novelfeatures and advantages of the invention, willbe apparent when thefollowing detailed description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which Figs. 1 and 2 comprise a section and planview, respectively, of a. rolling mill and run-out table including ashearing and crop-disposing apparatus constructed in accordance withthis invention; Figs. 3 and 4 views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of amodified form of the invention; and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 schematic views,respectively, showing various operating positions of the principalmoving parts of the shear and the apparatus for disposing of the cropends illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.

Referring in detail to these drawings, and first more particularly toFigs. 1 and 2, the numeral .l designates a rolling mill, and in thisinstance the last stand of a tandem-type finishing mill. Following thisis the customary run-out table comprising sections 2 and 3 upon whichthe strip issuing from the mill is discharged and conveyed to thecoiling, piling-or other strip-handling apparatus associated with themill but not shown.

Arranged in this table, and preferably adjacent the mill although it maybe otherwise located if so desired, is a flying shear 4 constructed topractice this invention. When so arranged the table section 2constitutes a feed table and the section 3 a run-out table for thisshear which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a pair of transverselyextending cooperating cutting blades 4a and 4b mounted in suitablecarriers 4c and 4d. These are in turn rotatably supported in a housing4e and connected to be driven by a motor 5 or other source of powersupply through the agency of a gear change unit 6 and spindles 1, thelatter being equipped with intermeshing gears bearing the same ratio asthe blade carriers for insuring the proper registration of the bladeswhen effecting a cut.

One feature of this shear which distinguishes it from the conventionalform of rotary shear, is

thatthe lower carrier is so designed that it will i only engage thestrip during a small portion of its revolution. Within a given range ofpositions it is spaced suillciently below the line of support of therun-out table to permit the leading end of the strip, if otherwiseunsupported when it passes thereover, to pass under the leading end ofthe table 3 adjacent the discharge side of the shear where, after beingsheared off, it is allowed to fall onto a chute II which is provided forguiding it into a dump-car or collector l2.

Another feature of the lower blade carrier 4d is embodied in the smallportion thereof located directly back of the cutting blade and, althoughit may take other shapes than that shown, is pref erably made insubstantially the form of a cylindrical segmental section and adapted toengage the forward end of the strip after a cut and guide it onto therun-out table 3 where it and the subsequent portions of the strip areconducted.

To operate the shear in the manner outlined, the blade carriers and 4dare brought to rest in a preselected position each time\the shear isstopped, and started in timed relation with the entry of the stripbetween the blades so as to both control the length of the first cut andinsure the blades being in such a position when the strip enters theshear that the first out will fall below the run-out table. In someinstances the shear may not be started until the strip is past thecutting blades and in others it may be started sometime before the stripreaches the shear. In the first case the carriers must be stopped in aposition which will allow the leading end of the strip to pass below therun-out table as it enters the shear, and in the second case they mustbe started in such timed relation with the strip that irrespective ofwhere they start from, the lower carrier will be in a position when thestrip enters the shear that it will allow the first cut to fall into thecrop collector. In all cases the shear is started so that the.first cutis on the first revolution of the lower carrier after the strip entersthe shear. While any suitable control system may be used for socontrolling the shear, the systems disclosed in United States PatentsNos. 1,894,815 and 1,959,852 are recommended, and in view thereof it isdeemed unnecessary to illustrate and describe a control in detail,although as a part thereof a limit switch I3 is shown connected to themotor 5 for regulating the stopping'of the shear and a flag switch ll infront of the mill l at an appropriate place in the path of the strip toeffect the starting of the shear by the passing of the strip thereoveras it is delivered to the shear.

In the form of shear illustrated, it is contemplated that the first cutwill be made the first provision is made so that for different stripspeeds the shear is afforded different lengths of time for startingwhereby its speed at the instant of cutto vary these lengths variousadjustments in the control may be provided. For example, an adjustabletime delay starting relay [5 as indicated may be disposed for operationby the limit switch I4 and set to produce any time of starting desired.

In accordance with known practice the blade carriers of the shear may bedesigned to produce a cut on each complete revolution of both, on eachcomplete revolution of one carrier and a plurality of revolutions of theother, or, as shown, they may be so proportioned that they will producecuts after a predetermined plurality of revolutions of both. The lattermakes it possible to produce cuts much larger than the circumference ofthe larger carrier while at the same time permitting the blades to bemoved at a speed approximating the speed of the strip when a cut ismade, which is desirable.

With' the latter type of carrier arrangement as in' the others, theblade carriers are stopped after each cut so as to produce the first cutin the manner previously outlined, that is, on the first revolution ofthe lower carrier after the strip enters the shear, which means that inthe case of cropping the two ends of coils it is stopped after the frontend cut and before a subsequent cut is made and brought to rest in itsoriginal starting position which in some cases, of course, requiresreversing its operation to return it to such position. All of this iscontemplated by the control systems disclosed in the aforementionedUnited States patents. Furthermore, irrespective of what their relativesizes may be, the carriers are preferably so designed that they are asnear as possible evenly balanced about their center of rotation toprevent the development of any undue strains when they are rotated.

To insure the front end of the strip passing under the run-out table 3and into the crop catcher when desired, irrespective of the weight andspeed of the strip, the feed table 2 is spaced a sufficient distancefrom the run-out table 3 so that the action of gravity on the strip willcause it to fall below the end of table 3 by the time it reaches thatpoint. In this space in front of the shear an apron or guide I6 isprovided which is pivotally supported adjacent the run-out table on ashaft I'I. Normally this guide is positioned so that it. engages thestrip only -when it falls below the plane of the-run-out table, and thenonly in such a way as to prevent the end thereof from striking the lowerblade carrier in case it tends to do so as it enters the shear. Asshown, this apron I6 is provided with a throat-forming cover i1 and apair of rollers l8 and I9 located at the outer ends of the cover and theapron proper. The purpose of this cover is to further insure the passingof the front end of the strip below the run-out table 3 before the firstcut is made, and onto the run-out table 3 thereafter. To so function itmay be adjusted so that its upper roller I8 is slightly below the normalpath of the strip so that in the event the strip is either turned up ortends to pass onto the run-out table 3 it will be engaged by this rolleri8 and deflected under table 3.

For most purposes such apron may be retained in a fixed adjustedposition at all times, such position being determined by the upper andlow er stops 2| and 22 provided on the face of the shear housing forsuch purpose. For some purposes, however, it may be desirable toposition the apron in one position when guiding the front end of thestrip under the run-out table 3 and I 1, it causes the inner end of theapron IE to be held in its lower position, and when at the inner end ofits stroke, as shown in Fig. 6, it causes the inner end of the apron tobe raised to its upper position.

The limits of this movement are determined by the position of the stops2| and 22, while the movements themselves are controlled by theapplication of the pressure to the piston in the cylinder 23 and a latch21 which is arranged to releasably engage the'lower end of the crank 25.As shown, the latter is normally biased to its locking position by aspring 28 and connected at its lower end by means of a connection 29 toa releasing solenoid 3i or equivalent mechanism. To control theoperation of this solenoid it may be connected to the limit switch l3,in a circuit not shown in such a manner that it will bereleased atapproximately the time the first cut is made. 'Previous thereto,however, by means of a hand control 32 or automatic means not shown alsoconnected with the limit switch l3, a pressure is applied to thecylinder 24 so that when the latch 21 is released the plunger in thecylinder 23 will operate immediately to throw theaprori to its upperposition. In alike manner the solenoid 3| may be similarly energizedbefore a succeeding piece of strip enters the shear such, for example,as when the shear is stopped. After a strip has passed out of the shear,the pressure in the cylinder 24 is re-- versed to return the apron toits lower position in readiness for the next strip, a control which mayalso be obtained by the limit switch l3.

- To assure the aforementioned operation of the latch 21, it is providedwith an inclined surface on its lower end which adapts it to permit thelower end of the crank 25 to displace it when the latter is movedoutwardly as the apron is lowered, whereby allowing it to function eventhough it is raised before the apron is lowered. As will be appreciated,only a single set of these apron-manipulating elements may be used orthey may be provided in duplicate.

To further assist in insuring the contemplated operation oftheinvention, an adjustable apron 33 is provided on the end of the run-outtable 3 adjacent the shear, and equipped with a roller 34 on its upperface for supporting the strip and directing it onto the table 3 afterthe first cut.

, It also has a downwardly inclined guide 35 on its under side fordeflecting the front end crops into the crop collector. To guide theleading end of the strip onto the run-out, table after the first out, incase it droops enough between the blade carrier and the run-out table 3,so that it will not otherwise pass onto the table 3 when it reaches thatpoint, the apron 33 is adapted to be tilted, as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 1. To permit this adjustment, the outer end is mounted ona shaft 36, and the latter equipped with a gear unit 31 and an adjustinghand-wheel 38 which need only be turned properly to raise or lower theapron. As a further feature the latter apron is also mounted formovement longitudinally of the table to permit variations in the spacingof it from the shear which may be desirable for different types ofmaterial, a rack and pinion element 39 being provided for ef fecting thelatter adjustment.

In the normal operation of the apparatus, carriers 4a and 4b are eitherheld in some such position as shown in Fig. 5, or are caused to be insuch a position when the strip is fed thereinto.

, In any event as soon as the front end of the strip is at the properpoint, the blade carriers are started and shear ofi the forward end ofthe strip on the first revolution of the lower carrier after the stripenters the shear, as indicated in Fig. 6. The continued rotation of thecarrier after this cut, as shown in Fig. 7, brings the portion 4 of thelower carrier into contact with the strip and tosses the end thereofupwardly onto the apron 33 and thence onto the run-out table 3, anoperation which is repeated when the strip is cut into lengths each timea cut is made. When-only the ends of the strip are to be re-' moved theshear is stopped after the first cut,

returned to its original position of rest, and then restarted to cut thetrailing crop.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a modified form A of the invention is shownwhich differs from that previously described only in the construction ofthe mechanism employed for adjusting the two aprons l6 and 33 providedbetween the shear and the run-out tables 2 and 3, and to avoidrepetition, the parts of the latter which are identical with those ofthe first are designated by the same reference characters. As shown inthese latter drawings, threaded screws 4! and 42 are the only meansemployed for supporting and adjusting the two aprons l6 and 33. beingthreadably engaged attheir upper ends in adjusting sleeves 43 and 44which are rotatably supported in brackets 45 and 46 secured to the shearhousing I. At their lower ends they are connected to brackets 41 and 48provided on the sides of the aprons by means of pins disposed in slots43 and 5|, the slot in the latter bracket being made sufiiciently longto accommodate the horizontal adjustment of the apron 33 as well as thevertical adjustment. By such means, as is apparent, only manualadjustment is afforded and when used, no parts other than the shearblades aremoved during the shearing operation.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that when it is desired not touse the shear, the forward apron I 6 and the rearward apron 33 may,

be adjusted-as to definitely insure the strip pass ing onto the run-outtable.

It will be further appreciated that the run-out apron 33 may be equippedwith an operating mechanism such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and socontrolled as to dispose of the trailing end crop, the disposal of whichis not provided for by the apparatus heretofore discussed. Another way,of disposing of these latter crops is to provide a guide such as theapron 33 with lifting means and locating it in the run-out tablesufilciently far enough away from the shear so that it can be used totrap the latter crops as they pass down the table.

According to the provisions of the patent stat-,

'derstood that, within the scope of the appended 'claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

1. In a shearing apparatus for transversely cutting strip material whilein motion, a feeding and a run-out conveyor for conducting the striptherethrough, a flying shear provided with superposed blade carriersequipped with cooperating cutting blades disposed between saidconveyors, the lower of said carriers being so designed that when in acertain position it will permit the strip to pass thereover below theline of support of said conveyors and under the run-out conveyor, andmeans for engaging the strip entering the shear after a cut is made andguiding it onto the run-out table.

2. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means for causing theblade carriers to be brought to rest in a preselected position each timethe shear is stopped.

3. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means for starting theshear in timed relation with the movement of the strip into the shearand in such a way that the leading end will pass under the run-out tablewhen sheared ofi.

4. A shearing apparatus according to claim 1 in which the lower bladecarrier is provided with means for guiding the strip entering the shearafter a cut is made onto the run-out conveyor.

5. A shearing apparatus according to claim 1 employing a flying shear ofthe rotary type in which the lower blade carrier is so shaped that in acertain angular position it will permit the strip entering the shear topass over it below the line of support of the conveyors.

6. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, guiding means betweensaid feeding conveyor and said shear for insuring the passage over thelower carrier and under the run-out conveyor of that portion of thestrip removed by the first cut.

7. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between saidfeeding conveyor and said shear for insuring the passage over the lowercarrier and under the run-out conveyor of the portion of the stripremoved by the first cut, and means for adjusting the operative positionof said latter means.

8. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between saidfeeding conveyor and said shear for guiding the strip between the bladecarriers, and power means for actuating said last mentioned guidingmeans to different operative positions.

9. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between saidfeeding conveyor and said shear for guiding the strip between the bladecarriers, power operated means for actuating said guiding means todifferent operative positions, and adjustable means for determining thelimits of movement of said guiding means.

10. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between saidfeeding conveyor and said shear for guiding the strip between the bladecarriers, power operated means for-actuating said guiding means todifferent operative positions, and automatically operated means forcontrollin the movement of said guiding means.

11. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between theshear and the run-out table for assisting in getting the strip onto therun-out table.

12. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between theshear and the run-out table for assisting in deflecting under the tablethe material removed by the first cut.

13. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between theshear and the run-out table for assisting in guiding the strip onto therun-out table, and means for adjusting said latter means.-

14. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, a pivoted guidebetween the shear and the runout table for assisting the strip onto therun-out table, and means for adjusting said means toward and from theshear.

15. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between theshear and the feeding conveyor for guiding the strip through the bladecarriers, and means between the shear and the runout conveyor forassisting in guiding the strip onto the latter conveyor.

16. In a shearing apparatus according to claim 1, means between theshear and the feeding con- 1'7. In a shearing apparatus for transverselyshearing strip material while in motion, a pair of cooperating cuttingblades, conveyors on opposite sides thereof for delivering the strip toand carrying it away from said blades and so spaced from each other asto normally permit the strip .to pass from the first conveyor below thesecond,

means for operating said cutting blades to sever the strip, and meansassociated with the lower blade for engaging the front end of the stripafter a cut and deflecting it up onto the discharge conveyor.

18. In a shearing apparatus, a rotary type transversely cutting flyingshear having a lower blade carrier which in certain angular positionslies well below the line of intersection of the cutting blades, adelivery table in front of said shear and a run-out table back of it,said tables being so spaced that strip passing from the delivery tablethrough the shear is normally caused by gravity to fall below thesupporting surface of the run-out table before it reaches the lattertable, means for rotating said carriers to produce cuts, and means onthe lower carrier for causing the end of the strip following a cut topass up onto the run-out table.

19. In a shearing apparatus, a flying shear comprising a pair of rotaryblade carriers equipped with cooperating transversely extending cuttingblades, a feeding conveyor for delivering the strip to the shear, arun-out conveyor for carrying the strip away from the shear, saidconveyors being guide from one position to another, means operated withthe shear for controlling said power means, a second guide arrangedbetween the shear and said run-out conveyor, for assisting in deflectingthe material removed by the first cut of the shear under the run-outconveyor and in 5 guiding the rest of the strip up onto it, means for 10means for starting the shear in timed relation with the movement of thestrip into the shear.

20. The method of shearing elongate strip material and separating thefirst cut from the rest of the strip while the strip is in motion which.15 consists in delivering the strip to the cutters along a given planeto a point spaced in front of the cutters, allowing it to preliminarilyfall below said delivery plane before and as it passes through thecutters and then after the firstcut is made deflecting the stripfollowing such cut upwardly and supporting it in a plane above thatfollowed by the portion removed by said cut.

21. A shearing apparatus-for transversely cutting strip material whilein motion, comprising a flying shear provided with a pair of superposedblade carriers equipped with cooperating cutting.

blades, the lower of said carriers being adapted when in a certainposition to permit the strip to pass thereover and below the cuttingplane of the shear, and means for engaging the strip entering the shearafter a cut is made and guiding it forward in or above the horizontalplane in which the cut is made.

MAURICE P. SIEGER.

